Stretchable electroluminescent devices

{
  "publication_number": "US10944072B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Stretchable electroluminescent devices",
  "abstract": "A light emitting capacitor can include a first and second electrode, an electroluminescent layer, and at least one elastomeric layer. The electroluminescent layer, which can include an elastomeric material doped with semiconducting nanoparticles, can be disposed between the first and second electrodes. The elastomeric layer can encapsulate the first electrode, second electrode, and electroluminescent layer. The first and second electrodes can be hydrogel or conductive electrodes. The light emitting capacitor can provide dynamic coloration or sensory feedback. The light emitting capacitor can be used in, for example, robotics, wearables (displays, sensors, textiles), and fashion.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A device comprising one or more light-emitting capacitors comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; an electroluminescent layer comprising an elastomeric material doped with semiconducting nanoparticles, wherein the electroluminescent layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and at least one elastomeric material layer that encapsulates the first electrode, the second electrode, and the electroluminescent layer; wherein the one or more of the light-emitting capacitors is/are configured to provide dynamic coloration, exteroception, proprioception, or a combination thereof in the device.",
    "2. The device of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material of the electroluminescent layer includes a transparent or translucent silicone, polyurethane, fluoroelastomer, or a combination thereof.",
    "3. The device of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material of the elastomeric material layer includes silicone.",
    "4. The device of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material layer has an elastic modulus from 1 kPa to 10 MPa.",
    "5. The device of claim 1, wherein the semiconducting nanoparticles are ZnS nanoparticles, ZnSe nanoparticles, CdSe nanoparticles, CdS nanoparticles, ZnO nanoparticles, CdO nanoparticles, Cu 2 S nanoparticles, CuInSe 2 nanoparticles, CdZnO nanoparticles, CdTe nanoparticles, or a combination thereof.",
    "6. The device of claim 1, wherein the semiconducting nanoparticles comprise a dopant.",
    "7. The device of claim 6, wherein the dopant is selected from copper ions, manganese ions, zinc ions, indium ions, chloride ions, aluminum ions, or a combination thereof.",
    "8. The device of claim 6, wherein the dopant is present at from 0.1 to 5% by mass.",
    "9. The device of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting capacitor is configured to reversibly stretch uniaxially to at least 300% strain while emitting light having a wavelength from 400 nm to 700 nm.",
    "10. The device of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting capacitor is configured to reversibly stretch uniaxially to at least 500% strain while emitting light having a wavelength from 400 nm to 700 nm.",
    "11. The device of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting capacitor is configured to reversibly expand its surface area by at least 300% while emitting light having a wavelength from 400 nm to 700 nm.",
    "12. The device of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting capacitor is configured to reversibly expand its surface area by at least 500% while emitting light having a wavelength from 400 nm to 700 nm.",
    "13. The device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the elastomeric material layers encapsulate the first electrode, the second electrode, and the electroluminescent layer.",
    "14. The device of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a first hydrogel electrode and the second electrode is a second hydrogel electrode.",
    "15. The device of claim 14, wherein the first hydrogel electrode and the second hydrogel electrode include polyacrylamide, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, a triacrylate, or a combination thereof and/or an aqueous salt.",
    "16. The device of claim 15, wherein the first hydrogel electrode and the second hydrogel electrode include the aqueous salt, and wherein the aqueous salt includes lithium chloride.",
    "17. The device of claim 15, wherein the first hydrogel electrode and the second hydrogel electrode include the aqueous salt, and wherein the aqueous salt is present at from 0.1 to 50% by volume.",
    "18. The device of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a first conductive electrode and the second electrode is a second conductive electrode.",
    "19. The device of claim 18, wherein one or both of the first and second conductive electrodes comprise a film of carbon black, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), or polyaniline.",
    "20. The device of claim 18, wherein the elastomeric material layer includes silicone having an elastic modulus of 1 kPa to 10 MPa.",
    "21. The device of claim 18, wherein a total thickness of the light-emitting capacitor is from 10 microns to 1 cm.",
    "22. The device of claim 18, wherein the semiconducting nanoparticles comprises a dopant.",
    "23. The light-emitting capacitor of claim 22, wherein the semiconductor nanoparticles are ZnS and the dopant is Cu, wherein the semiconductor nanoparticles are ZnS and the dopants are Cu and Cl, wherein the semiconductor nanoparticles are ZnS and the dopants are Cu and Al, and/or wherein the semiconductor nanoparticles are ZnS and the dopants are Cu, Mn, and Al.",
    "24. The device of claim 18, wherein the light-emitting capacitor is configured to stretch uniaxially to at least 150% strain while emitting light having a wavelength from 400 nm to 700 nm.",
    "25. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a robot, a display, or a human touch interface and wherein the one or more of the light-emitting capacitors is/are disposed on a portion of or all of an exterior surface of the device.",
    "26. A fabrication method of the device of claim 1, wherein the fabrication includes using one or more of replica molding, spray patterning, inkjet printing, spin-coating, tape casting, or screen-printing.",
    "27. The fabrication method of claim 26, wherein the fabrication includes one or more of spray patterning, inkjet printing, spin-coating, tape casting, or screen-printing, wherein a sprayable electrode precursor comprises a dispersion with a solvent.",
    "28. The fabrication method of claim 27, wherein the solvent is at least one of an aqueous solvent for PEDOT:PSS, polyaniline, and COOH-functionalized multi- and single-walled carbon nanotubes or the solvent is an organic-based solvent.",
    "29. The fabrication method of claim 28, wherein the organic-based solvent is one or more of toluene or dimethyl sulfoxide for non-functionalized multi- and single-walled carbon nanotubes.",
    "30. A material comprising a plurality of light-emitting capacitors, each of the light-emitting capacitors comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; an electroluminescent layer comprising an elastomeric material doped with semiconducting nanoparticles, wherein the electroluminescent layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and at least one elastomeric material layer that encapsulates the first electrode, the second electrode, and the electroluminescent layer; wherein the plurality of light-emitting capacitors are disposed in the at least one elastomeric material layer; and wherein the material comprising the plurality of light-emitting capacitors is disposed on at least a portion of an elastomeric foam material.",
    "31. The material of claim 30, wherein two of the elastomeric material layers encapsulate the plurality of light emitting capacitors.",
    "32. The material of claim 30, wherein the plurality of light emitting capacitors include a ZnS-based material ranging in size from 10 nm to 10 micron diameters.",
    "33. The material of claim 30, wherein the plurality of light emitting capacitors comprise ZnS nanoparticles doped with Cu that range in size from 10 nm to 10 micron diameters.",
    "34. The material of claim 30, wherein the material and/or light emitting capacitors is/are configured to provide sensory feedback.",
    "35. The material of claim 30, wherein the material is disposed on at least a portion of a robot, a fluidically actuated device, or a human-touch device.",
    "36. The material of claim 30, wherein the material is disposed on at least a portion of a display.",
    "37. A device comprising: one or more light-emitting capacitors comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; an electroluminescent layer comprising an elastomeric material doped with semiconducting nanoparticles, wherein the electroluminescent layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and at least one elastomeric material layer that encapsulates the first electrode, the second electrode, and the electroluminescent layer; and a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator comprising: an inextensible layer encased in a second elastomeric material; and a second elastomeric material layer including at least one independently-controlled chamber, wherein the at least one elastomeric material of the one or more light-emitting capacitors is disposed on the second elastomeric material layer of the pneumatic or hydraulic actuator.",
    "38. The device of claim 37, wherein the inextensible layer includes an inextensible woven or unwoven fiber mesh and the second elastomeric material encasing the inextensible layer includes silicone, fluoropolymer, or polyurethane.",
    "39. The device of claim 37, wherein the inextensible layer includes a nylon.",
    "40. The device of claim 37, wherein the second elastomeric material layer includes silicone, fluoroelastomer, or polyurethane."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This disclosure relates to light-emitting capacitors.\n\nVertebrates and invertebrates alike employ a host of strategies for visualization and camouflage. Some examples include changing their skin color or texture, as well as mimicry via posturing. Cephalopods (e.g. squid, octopus, and cuttlefish) modulate their skin color and tone using subcutaneous neuromuscular organs called leucophores, iridiphores, and chromatophores present in the thousands. Chromatophores, elastic sacs that each contain pigment of a specific color, are controlled by a complex array of nerves and muscles. When excited, surrounding muscles contract and cause the sac to expand, making the color more visible. When the muscle relaxes, energy stored in the elastic sacculus causes it to retract. Through control of these different coloration organs, cephalopods emit, absorb, and reflect light for dynamic coloration.\n\nRecent advances in stretchable, transparent electrode technology have enabled visual displays that are highly compliant, flexible, and stretchable to greater than twice their nominal length. These synthetic material systems, however, are no match for displays found in nature, such as cephalopod skin, which can expand its surface area by up to 500%. This high extensibility, in combination with organs devoted to light emission and absorption, allow cephalopods such as octopuses to control both posture and color for visual communication and disguise.\n\nAmong cephalopods, the octopus is very good at camouflage, being able to change not only its coloration but also skin texture to match a wide range of visual environments.",
  "cpc": [
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  "ipc": [
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  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Cornell University"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Chris M. Larson",
    "Robert F. Shepherd",
    "Bryan N. Peele",
    "Sanlin S. Robinson",
    "Shuo Li"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-11-03",
  "publication_date": "2021-03-09",
  "grant_date": "2021-03-09",
  "priority_date": "2015-11-03",
  "application_number": "US-201615773052-A",
  "family_id": "58662812",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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}